Behavioral Health Interventionist

At the City of Plymouth, we all work together to add quality to life. This mission and our guiding values - CIVIC: customer focus, integrity, visionary, inclusion and connection - shape our work as we advance the City Council's strategic priority to be a city of choice. We are seeking candidates who are eager to adopt and champion our mission and values.

The City of Plymouth is seeking a Behavioral Health Interventionist to work alongside a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) sworn police officer as a member of a co-response team. This position will provide support and professional insight into the behavioral health needs of community members through various interventions including conducting on-scene risk assessments, crisis intervention, mental and chemical health assessments, harm reduction planning, resource referrals and short-term case management. Additionally, this position will follow up on behavioral health-related incidents within the jurisdiction and coordinate with relevant service providers to meet the needs of community members.Â

Respond to behavioral health-related incidents.

• Co-respond with sworn and non-sworn personnel to mental health and substance use crisis calls.
• Coordinate placement into facilities that provide an appropriate level of care when an individual's needs are assessed to be unsafe to remain in the community.
• Provide onsite/in-person intervention and connections with short and long-term community resources.
• Work in conjunction with community providers to extend an exceptional level of care to those in need. This may include other city, county, state and federal entities.
• Work collaboratively with sworn and non-sworn personnel to meet the needs of the community members.
• Maintain thorough and timely documentation of behavioral health-related incidents to minimize ongoing resource draws of the police department.
• Provide a framework for department members to address and assist those struggling with behavioral health issues, specifically addiction, mental wellness and homelessness.
• Provide and explain legal issues to employees and community members regarding behavioral health-related requirements, responses and documentation.
• Provide short-term case management with identified individuals.
• Raise community awareness through public education and community event engagement.
• Maintain a regular and reliable working schedule.
• May work evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Perform other duties or special assignments as directed by the Public Safety Director or designee.
  
  

Maintain effective relations with the public.

• Initiate and participate in community engagement activities to educate and continue positive community relationships.
• Effectively adapt communication style to the audience, listen carefully, use respectful language and tone, and appropriate interpersonal and rapport-building strategies to diffuse situations.
• Participate in citywide training designed to strengthen interpersonal, communication and leadership skills.
• Provide exceptional customer service to Plymouth residents, business owners and visitors.
• Demonstrate a full understanding of - and respect for - the diversity of the community, co-workers, and supervisors, including individuals with disabilities or whose first language may not be English.
  
  

Perform other duties as apparent or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in social work or closely related field from Accredited college or university.
• Two years of full-time supervised experience as social worker or closely related position.
• Experience assessing mental health and chemical health symptoms.
• Strong skills and experience with crisis management, conflict management and the ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to perform in accordance with the City of Plymouth's CIVIC values (customer focus, integrity, visionary, inclusion and connection) and comfort with supporting and advancing the city council's strategic priorities.
• Significant experience working with a wide variety of computer software packages to include Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Valid driver's license.
• Must have the ability to actively listen to others to understand their needs and situations. Ability to read, speak and write clearly. Must be able to control conversations to quickly and effectively gather pertinent information and be able to communicate this information professionally and precisely to the proper recipient (by word or documentation). Must be able to read and understand correspondence, memoranda and/or directives. Must demonstrate effective skills in both oral and demonstrative presentations.
• Must pass extensive background check.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree in social work or closely related field from an Accredited college or university.
• Licensed by the Minnesota Board of Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Health & Therapy, or similarly related licensing board.
• Ability to speak a second language (in addition to English) fluently in order to meet needs of residents.
• Experience working closely with law enforcement agencies/entities.
• Experience interacting with persons of varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Professional experience conducting crisis assessments related to mental and chemical health.
• Recent professional experience completing diagnostic assessments, psychological evaluations, substance use assessments, and/or dual-diagnosis assessments.
• A proven track record of building and fostering strong community partnerships.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Very frequent (often required to perform the job): sitting or standing, stationary desk or bench work with neck bent forward, handling objects (grasping, turning or otherwise using hands or hand), repetitive hand motion (typing, using computer)
• The employee must be able to lift/carry items from 0 - 5 pounds from 0 - 6 feet. Employee must be able to lift items such as files, binders, and office equipment.